The Samurai

Shusaku Endo

At the beginning of the 17th century four Japanese envoys, low-ranking
samurai, sail across the Pacific to New Spain (Mexico), cross the
continent, sail across the Atlantic, visit Madrid and Rome, and then
return the same way. During their journey they convert to Christianity,
only to find on their return that that religion has been proscribed.

This story, based on historical events, is compelling and The Samurai
renders the worlds of 17th century Japan and Europe, as seen through both
native and foreign eyes, quite vividly. A Catholic himself, however,
Endo makes it more an exploration of the nature of religious faith than
of the world.

The Samurai switches backwards and forwards between two perspectives.
Half of it is told in the first person, as the journal of Franciscan
missionary Velasco, who accompanies the envoys; he dreams of being
appointed bishop of Japan and his worst enemies are not the Japanese lords
attacking Christianity but the Jesuits who take a different approach to
missionary activity and send scurrilous reports about him back to Europe.

The other half, in the third person, follows one of the Japanese
envoys, Hasekura, who is mostly referred to as simply "the samurai".
A low-ranking samurai whose domain consists of poor marshlands, his
family hopes for restoration of wealthier lands lost when they took the
wrong side in a war, though he himself is quietly accepting.

Some of the other envoys are also finely drawn, but these two are the
central masterpieces and their authenticity prevents Endo's account
lapsing too far into the confessional. Velasco's greatest sin is
his pride, while Hasekura, whose loyalty and trust in his superiors
epitomises contrasting virtues, converts only as a matter of convenience.
In their different ways they both wrestle with their doubts and they
both find martyrdom.